Dried Apple Rings

This is a fun way to prepare apples for portable snacking. (See Dried Apple/Pear Dice for another.) Kids have fun putting Dried Apple Rings on their fingers as jewelry and nibbling them off.Recipeapplesapple corerparing knifechef’s knifedehydratorWash apples and pat them dry. We like to use the whole fruit, so we leave the peels on, but if you choose to peel them be sure to remove the core first, or the apples may break. Using a chef’s knife, cut apples crosswise into 1/2 inch thick “rings.” Arrange apple rings in a single layer on dehydrator trays and dry at 135 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-16 hours (110-115 degrees for raw; will require additional drying time) until lightweight and leathery with no pockets of moisture. Squeeze a few together to check for doneness; they should not stick together. Let Dried Apple Rings cool, then transfer to a jar with a lid. Set them on the kitchen counter out of direct sunlight for a 2-3 days to condition, shaking the jar daily to redistribute moisture within the pieces of fruit. If you notice moisture collecting inside the jar the Dried Apple Rings are under-dried. Return them to the dehydrator for another hour or two, until done. Repeat conditioning treatment, then store in a cool, dark cupboard up to 1 year – if they last that long.

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